From Blue Bay: Ile aux Cerfs Speedboat Excursion with BBQ

The best part of this day is the variety. You move from coral gardens and old lighthouse ruins to a river waterfall, a beach BBQ, and another snorkel stop, all from a speedboat based at Blue Bay. The day feels active without being packed solid.

I like the Blue Bay Marine Park snorkeling, where 35 minutes gives you a real chance to see colorful fish, and I like the generous lunch break at Ile aux Cerfs with fish, chicken, vegetarian food by request, and drinks included. The main drawback is time: with five major stops, the Ile aux Cerfs beach portion may feel short if that is your main reason for booking.

The tour earns a strong 4.8 rating from 118 bookings. You should still expect changing sea and weather conditions, some boat music, and a meeting point that requires you to find the small stand by the beach rather than wait for hotel pickup.

Key points to know before booking

• Blue Bay starts the day in the water: You get about 35 minutes to snorkel in Mauritius’s largest coral reserve.
• The route covers several different sights: The speedboat reaches the lighthouse island, Grand River South East, Ile aux Cerfs, and Ile aux Aigrettes.
• BBQ lunch is part of the price: Fish and chicken are offered, with a vegetarian meal available if you request it when booking.
• The waterfall stop includes monkeys: Keep an eye on your belongings around the cheeky animals at Grand River South East.
• Two snorkeling opportunities are included: Bring swimwear, a towel, water shoes, and your preferred mask and snorkel if you have them.
• This is a full seven-hour outing: It starts at 9:30am and returns to Blue Bay around 4pm, with no hotel transfer included.

Blue Bay Marine Park sets the tone

Meet at the Blue Bay Public Beach at 9:30am, opposite the main parking area and Blue Bay Tuck Shop. Look for the path to the beach and a small stand with a dark grey parasol. This is the Totof Tours meeting point, not a hotel pickup service, so leave enough time to find it.

The first stop is Blue Bay Marine Park, where you have about 35 minutes for snorkeling. This is a smart opening stop because the water activity begins close to the departure point, before the boat carries you farther along the southeast coast.

You receive a mask, snorkel, and life jacket as part of the tour. I would still bring your own snorkeling gear if you have equipment that fits you well, especially if you are particular about masks. The required packing list also includes swimwear, a towel, and water shoes.

The marine park is described as Mauritius’s largest coral reserve. That gives this stop more weight than a quick swim beside an ordinary beach. The fish sightings can be excellent, including colorful fish, though sea conditions always affect visibility. Plan on a proper snorkel, but do not expect an unlimited session. Thirty-five minutes passes quickly once equipment is fitted and you are in the water.

A scenic run past Point d’Esny and Mahebourg

After snorkeling, the speedboat follows the coast past Point d’Esny toward Mahebourg. Mahebourg was once the capital of Mauritius, and seeing it from the water adds a little local context to what could otherwise be just a fast transfer between stops.

The boat is central to the experience. You get a quicker, more open ride than a large glass-bottom boat or a land-based excursion, and the route lets you see the coast from several angles. At the same time, a speedboat means wind, spray, sun, and a livelier ride. If you prefer calm transport, this may not be the right format for a full day on the water.

One useful detail comes from the operating style: the trip uses two skippers, and the boat is described as comfortable and not overloaded. That does not mean you should expect a private charter, but it suggests a more personal setup than a very large boat. Music may play during the ride, and one booking found it a little too loud. If you want a quieter run, simply ask for the volume to be lowered.

The old lighthouse on Ile aux Fouquets

The lighthouse stop lasts about 30 minutes. The itinerary identifies the location as the Ile aux Fouquets Lighthouse, while the broader tour description calls it Ile aux Phare. Either way, the point is the same: you land near an old lighthouse ruin and have time to walk around the island.

This stop adds a sense of place that the beach stops do not provide. The weathered lighthouse ruin gives you something to look at beyond sand and water, and the brief walk breaks up the snorkeling and boat time.

Thirty minutes is enough for a short look, some photographs, and a quick wander. It is not enough for a long island walk or a detailed historical visit. The attraction here is the setting and the contrast with the marine park, not a guided heritage tour.

Wear shoes that can handle a rough, uneven surface, especially if you plan to walk beyond the immediate landing area. Water shoes are a good compromise because they help both on the island and at the beach.

Grand River South East and its cheeky monkeys

The boat then enters Grand River South East for a 25-minute visit to the waterfall. This is one of the most enjoyable changes of scenery on the route. Instead of open sea and reef, you move into a river setting with flowing water, steep-sided banks, and a waterfall at the end.

The short stop works best as a scenic visit rather than a long hike. You get time to view the falls and take in the river surroundings before returning to the boat. The waterfalls are also home to monkeys, described as cheeky for good reason.

Keep food and loose items secured. The monkeys are part of the fun from a distance, but you should not feed them or leave belongings unattended. This is another reason to avoid bringing more gear than you need onto the boat.

The weather can shape this section of the day. The crew has adjusted the program when conditions changed, which is sensible on a sea excursion. You may not follow every stop in exactly the same rhythm if wind or rain develops. Flexibility is useful here, even if you have your heart set on a particular photo or swim.

BBQ lunch on Ile aux Cerfs

Ile aux Cerfs receives the longest scheduled stop, about 100 minutes. That includes the BBQ meal and beach time near the entrance to the lagoon. The lunch menu includes fish and chicken, with a vegetarian option available if requested during reservation.

Food and drinks are included throughout the excursion, with alcoholic and soft drinks served around the meal. This adds meaningful value to the $106 price, since a full day on the water can become expensive once you add lunch, drinks, equipment, and separate boat trips.

The meal is served as part of the outing rather than at a formal restaurant. Expect a relaxed beach break, not a polished dining room. That suits the route. You can eat, swim, sit on the sand, and reset before the return journey.

I would request the vegetarian meal in advance rather than waiting until lunch. The same goes for any food concern, since the provided information confirms the vegetarian choice only when requested with the booking.

Ile aux Cerfs is the stop many people will picture when they book. Its beach and lagoon setting are the main reward, but the schedule is worth understanding. Ninety minutes may feel generous after a morning of movement, yet it includes lunch, drinks, and beach time. One booking specifically wished for more time on the island. If your top priority is spending half a day on Ile aux Cerfs, a dedicated island beach trip may suit you better.

For this excursion, the island works as one part of a larger southeast Mauritius route. That is its strength and its limitation. You see more in a single day, but you do not linger long at any one place.

The final swim near Ile aux Aigrettes

On the return route, the boat stops around Ile aux Aigrettes for about 45 minutes of break time and snorkeling. This gives you a second chance to get in the water after lunch, when you may prefer an easy swim to another walk or sightseeing stop.

The second snorkeling session also gives the day a useful balance. If the morning conditions are not ideal at Blue Bay, you have another opportunity to enjoy the sea later. The two stops are not guaranteed to feel identical, since weather and water conditions can change, but the extra time in the water is valuable.

The schedule then returns to the Blue Bay Public Beach at around 4pm. Seven hours is long enough to make the trip feel like a full day, though you should expect plenty of sun and boat exposure. Apply sun protection before departure and bring a towel that dries reasonably fast.

What the $106 price really covers

At $106 per person, this is not the cheapest way to visit a single beach. The price makes more sense when you count the included parts: speedboat transport, two snorkeling sessions, snorkeling equipment, life jacket, lighthouse island visit, waterfall stop, Ile aux Cerfs, BBQ lunch, and drinks.

You are also paying for access to a broad route that would be difficult to combine independently in one day without arranging several separate boat movements. The speedboat connects the marine park, islands, river, and beach in one outing.

The value is strongest for you if you want many different experiences in one day. It is weaker if you only want a long, quiet beach stay or a serious snorkeling expedition. The 100-minute Ile aux Cerfs stop includes lunch, so it is not two hours of uninterrupted swimming and sunbathing.

Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included. You must make your own way to the Blue Bay meeting point, which keeps the advertised price more transparent but adds a planning step. English and French are available for the live tour guidance.

Flexible booking also helps. You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. Check the available start time when booking, even though this schedule is listed as 9:30am to approximately 4pm.

How weather and boat conditions can change the day

A sea tour is never entirely fixed. Wind and rain can affect snorkeling visibility, boat comfort, and the order or length of stops. The crew has adapted the program to suit weather conditions, which is the right approach for safety and enjoyment.

Bring a light cover-up if you have one, along with swimwear and a towel. Water shoes are useful around beaches, boat landings, and the lighthouse island. You may also want a dry bag for phones and wallets, though one is not listed among the inclusions.

The boat is described as comfortable and not overloaded, but comfort is personal. You will spend several hours exposed to sun, spray, and motion. Anyone prone to seasickness should take that into account before choosing a speedboat excursion.

The crew’s helpful approach is another positive. They explain parts of the route and assist with the activities, and they have adjusted the plan when weather required it. The operation appears to value getting you a good day rather than forcing every stop exactly as printed.

Who will enjoy this Mauritius day trip

I would recommend this excursion to you if you want an active introduction to the southeast coast and prefer a boat day with several chapters. It suits couples, families with confident swimmers, and anyone who likes to alternate between water time, short walks, scenery, and a casual meal.

It is also a good fit if you want snorkeling but do not want to book a specialized snorkel-only outing. The 35-minute Blue Bay session and 45-minute Ile aux Aigrettes session provide useful time in the water, while the rest of the day gives non-snorkelers several other things to do.

You may want a different tour if your main goal is a long stay on Ile aux Cerfs, a quiet boat ride, or a slow cultural visit. The pace is active, and the music, spray, and changing conditions are part of the package.

Should you book the Totof Tours speedboat excursion?

Book it if you value variety and want the southeast of Mauritius in one well-filled day. The strongest features are the two snorkeling stops, the old lighthouse ruin, the Grand River South East waterfall, the monkeys, and a BBQ with drinks already included.

Before booking, be honest about your priorities. If Ile aux Cerfs is the only sight you care about, the 100-minute stop may leave you wanting more. If you want a full coastal sampler with a comfortable, non-overloaded speedboat and a crew willing to adapt to the weather, the $106 price is reasonable for what is included.

FAQ

Where does the excursion start?

It starts at Totof Tours at Blue Bay Public Beach. The meeting point is opposite the main parking area and Blue Bay Tuck Shop, down the beach path near a small stand with a dark grey parasol.

What time does the tour start and finish?

The excursion starts at 9:30am and returns to the Blue Bay Public Beach at about 4pm. The total duration is seven hours.

Is hotel pickup included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you must arrange your own transport to and from the Blue Bay meeting point.

What food is served at lunch?

The BBQ includes fish and chicken. A vegetarian meal is available if you request it when making the reservation.

Are drinks included?

Yes. Alcoholic and soft drinks are included during the meal and throughout the excursion.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. A mask, snorkel, and life jacket are included. You should also bring swimwear, a towel, water shoes, and snorkeling gear if you prefer to use your own equipment.

What languages are available?

The live tour guide service is available in English and French.